Dennis Rodman lands in North Korea to train basketball team, news agency says

Anna Coren and Jason Hanna, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 1:00 PM EST, Thu December 19, 2013
Former NBA basketball star Dennis Rodman is surrounded by North Korean officials and members of the media upon his arrival at Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Tuesday, June 13. The trip comes at a time of heightened tension between Washington and Pyongyang.
Former NBA basketball star Dennis Rodman is surrounded by North Korean officials and members of the media upon his arrival at Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Tuesday, June 13. The trip comes at a time of heightened tension between Washington and Pyongyang.
Kim Kwang Hyon/AP
Rodman arrives in North Korea on June 13. When asked if he planned to talk to North Korean officials about the four Americans detained there, Rodman said: "Well that's not my purpose right now. ... My purpose is to go over there and try to see if I can keep bringing sports to North Korea."
Rodman arrives in North Korea on June 13. When asked if he planned to talk to North Korean officials about the four Americans detained there, Rodman said: "Well that's not my purpose right now. ... My purpose is to go over there and try to see if I can keep bringing sports to North Korea."
Will Ripley/CNN
Rodman waves to photographers at Beijing Capital International Airport ahead of his departure to Pyongyang on June 13.
Rodman waves to photographers at Beijing Capital International Airport ahead of his departure to Pyongyang on June 13.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
At the Beijing airport, Rodman told CNN he was hoping to do "something that's pretty positive" before boarding a plane bound for North Korea.
At the Beijing airport, Rodman told CNN he was hoping to do "something that's pretty positive" before boarding a plane bound for North Korea.
CNN
In a handout photo from the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un talks with Rodman during an exhibition basketball game in Pyongyang on January 8, 2014. Rodman, a former contestant on Donald Trump's pre-presidency reality TV show "Celebrity Apprentice," is one of the few Americans to have met Kim.
In a handout photo from the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un talks with Rodman during an exhibition basketball game in Pyongyang on January 8, 2014. Rodman, a former contestant on Donald Trump's pre-presidency reality TV show "Celebrity Apprentice," is one of the few Americans to have met Kim.
KCNA via AP
Rodman sings "Happy Birthday" to Kim before the exhibition game in Pyongyang. In what he calls <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/06/world/asia/north-korea-dennis-rodman/index.html">"basketball diplomacy,"</a> Rodman participated in a game between North Korea and a team of former NBA players.
Rodman sings "Happy Birthday" to Kim before the exhibition game in Pyongyang. In what he calls "basketball diplomacy," Rodman participated in a game between North Korea and a team of former NBA players.
Kim Kwang Hyon/AP
A bottle of vodka with illustrations of Rodman, Kim and Rodman's name written in Korean sits on the roof of a car outside a Pyongyang hotel in January 2014.
A bottle of vodka with illustrations of Rodman, Kim and Rodman's name written in Korean sits on the roof of a car outside a Pyongyang hotel in January 2014.
David Guttenfelder/AP
Son Kwang Ho, vice minister of North Korea's Sports Ministry, greets Rodman at the airport in Pyongyang in January 2014.
Son Kwang Ho, vice minister of North Korea's Sports Ministry, greets Rodman at the airport in Pyongyang in January 2014.
Kim Kwang Hyon/AP
Rodman plays one-on-one with a North Korean player during a practice session in Pyongyang in December 2013. During the session, Rodman selected the members of the North Korean team who would play in Pyongyang against the visiting NBA stars.
Rodman plays one-on-one with a North Korean player during a practice session in Pyongyang in December 2013. During the session, Rodman selected the members of the North Korean team who would play in Pyongyang against the visiting NBA stars.
Kim Kwang Hyon/AP
Rodman holds a cigar as he speaks to North Korean basketball players during the practice session in December 2013.
Rodman holds a cigar as he speaks to North Korean basketball players during the practice session in December 2013.
David Guttenfelder/AP
Rodman attracts notice as he enters the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang in December 2013.
Rodman attracts notice as he enters the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang in December 2013.
David Guttenfelder/AP
Rodman arrives at Beijing's airport before a flight to North Korea in December 2013.
Rodman arrives at Beijing's airport before a flight to North Korea in December 2013.
Ng Han Guan/AP
Rodman shows photos of himself with Kim while talking to journalists at the Beijing airport in September 2013. It was after his second trip to the reclusive nation.
Rodman shows photos of himself with Kim while talking to journalists at the Beijing airport in September 2013. It was after his second trip to the reclusive nation.
Ng Han Guan/ap
Rodman faces questions about detained American Kenneth Bae at the Beijing airport in September 2013. "It is not my job to talk about Kenneth Bae," he told reporters. Bae was later released from detention in North Korea in 2014.
Rodman faces questions about detained American Kenneth Bae at the Beijing airport in September 2013. "It is not my job to talk about Kenneth Bae," he told reporters. Bae was later released from detention in North Korea in 2014.
Ng Han Guan/ap
Kim talks with Rodman during a dinner in this undated photo published on the homepage of North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper on September 7, 2013.
Kim talks with Rodman during a dinner in this undated photo published on the homepage of North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper on September 7, 2013.
Rodong Sinmun/Korea News Service via AP
Rodman arrives at North Korea's Pyongyang airport in September 2013.
Rodman arrives at North Korea's Pyongyang airport in September 2013.
Jon Chol Jin/ap
Airport staff take pictures of the former NBA star at a check-in counter in Beijing in September 2013.
Airport staff take pictures of the former NBA star at a check-in counter in Beijing in September 2013.
Andy Wong/AP